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You are what you make of yourself. My search for a great 2012.

“Inspiration doesn’t interrupt you; it’s something that has to be pursued. We all must feed our minds and make conscious choices about how we direct our thoughts, energy, and focus or the demands, negativity, and inevitable distractions of the day will take over.
To do this effectively, we need a system—a daily ritual that will ensure we’re taking control of our focus, learning new tools and proven strategies to make a difference, and taking action to create momentum and produce results.”

-Anthony Robbins.

I am trying to end 2011 on a happy, clutter-free and inspiring note.

I’m still trying to work out whether I liked, or hated 2011? I’ll write about this later in the week.

I’m finding it hard to understand life at the moment, so I am searching for inspiration and motivation. I thought I’d share my search beginning today… 

What steps will you take to make 2012 a great year?

15 comments

  • A-M

    Oh I hear you. I’m still trying to work out whether 2011 was good or bad. We’re still here, right?… healthy and in one piece! The bad stuff has taught me the greatest lessons…. lessons I would have never learnt if the bad stuff didn’t happen… that’s good, right? Great quote by Anthony Robbins… so true…your thoughts make you. Whatever you think about, focus on…you become. My steps to making 2012 a great year….. focus on the good, be grateful as gratitude leads to happiness, accept the things I cannot change, stay fit, don’t sweat the small stuff, create long term goals, but live in the moment more, work towards rewards (incentives for achievement), do more with less and live simply. Looking back over 2011, loved my time in Melbourne, on The Block and meeting you, your gorgeous friends and family and J-A from the Decorating Forum. We all finally met. That was good. We’ve had a lot of blog/twitter fun in 2011. That’s good…. #nearbutfar #samesamebutdifferent. Happy New Year Katrina. It’s going to be a good one. A-M xx

    • Katrina (author)

      So much to be grateful for, but all of that came at a price – emotionally, financially and my health is last on the list. But we keep smiling and keep pushing. Loved meeting you – BIG highlight!! xoxox

  • Niki

    I’m like you, searching for a 2012 that’s entirely inspiring. It includes some health goals for all of us. Some home front goals & lots of personal growth goals. The best way for me to start on the right foot is getting away with no pressure for a few weeks by the ocean…I’ll let you know how I go-ha. Love to you gorgeous girl & I’ll see ya when I’m all relaxed & ready to kick 2012’s butt.

    • Katrina (author)

      Can’t wait! Enjoy your break xo

  • Kek

    Clutter-free – love it! Right, you’ve inspired me. I’m going to clean up my office, reorganise my wardrobe, donate surplus clothes to charity, organise a council hard rubbish collection and list a heap of stuff on eBay.

    That’s my pre-New Year resolution. Three and a half days to get it done – better move!

    :o)

    • Katrina (author)

      I am on a mission too Kerryn!

  • Cathy

    I’m a bit like you…don’t think I liked 2011 but can’t quite put my finger on why…
    I have a good feeling and high hopes for 2012…hopefully I’m not jinxing myself! Just feel like its going to be a life-changing year although I have no idea how. Am currently cleaning, decluttering, storing, sorting etc….

    • Katrina (author)

      Can’t wait to see what 2012 brings either 🙂

  • Jo Petrie

    Hmm 2011 has been great, yes ups, yes downs. But if this past few days has taught me anything it is just to be in the moment. I know life will eventually go back to normal but at the moment it feels like hell. Losing the girls & with Matt in hospital just puts things in perspective you know. Hoping 2012 brings contentment and time to breathe. Xx

    • Katrina (author)

      Hello Jo, I din’t realise you were close to them. I am so sorry to hear about this. I have thought about the family often. Lots of love to you too xo

  • Bronwyn @ Mad Crafty Mama

    2011 has had a lot of downs for me, but surprisingly, I am in a much better place than I was at the beginning of the year. So if that doesn’t prove that what doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger, I don’t know what does. I’m looking forward to 2012.

  • Kerry

    Ah, the immortal question of what has this year been. 2011 was the first one I had to deal with without my Mum there by my side. I started strong, looking after a lot of my family, but as they started to settle, I started to lose it. So 2011 became the year of grieving and understanding life as it is for me, it was neither good nor was it bad – not when you compare it to 2010 when I was helping my dying Mum get through what was left of life for her. I survived 2010 and 2011, so I am dedicating 2012 to healing myself. I am fragile still and need to love me this year – much weight came with the grief so this is going and I am also going to find my happy place again. The one thing that I always think is that I might have it bad, but out there there is someone who has it worse. Happy 2012 to you all.

    • Katrina (author)

      Hi Kerry, Sorry to hear about your Mum. I am so glad to hear you are doing ok though. I agree – 2012 is going to be a great year for you. xo

  • Karen@RestyledVintage

    2011 has been an absolutely life-changing year for me and my little family. We are from Chch NZ, so at the beginning of the year we were still trying to get back to ‘normal’ following the Sept 2010 earthquake. Then Feb 22 hit 🙁 My 7 yr old daughter was quite affected and so too was I. My husband got made redundant after 22 yrs at Westpac, and although at first it seemed like terrible news, we decided to look at it as an opportunity to really think about what we wanted and where we wanted to be. After a hard-thinking couple of months we decided to move to Australia, so through the (still) continuing aftershocks, sold our home (luckily very quickly) and on 5th August, landed in Brisbane. A month later we were in a rental property in Port Macquarie (somewhere we had never even heard of!) starting our new life. Four months later we still pinch ourselves that we are in a different country, something we never ever thought we would do, but then we never thought Chch would be flattened either 🙁 It is still early days for us but we have found it really easy to settle into life here, people are friendly and helpful, my husband has a great banking job with lovely workmates, I have my furniture in a shop in town (still cannot believe it when I drive by and see something I made in the front window, lol!) My 7 yr old has settled well into school and my 5 yr old is looking forward to kindy in the new year (me too!) We are of course missing our friends and family in Chch and the mixture of feelings of guilt and relief I feel following last Friday’s further large aftershocks are quite hard to deal with, but we just did what we had to do to get on with a normal life…I needed to be a mother to my children who didn’t live with the constant dread of what was coming next, and my kids deserved a childhood not dominated by ongoing earthquakes. Port Macquarie is giving us that, and I am very much at peace now (just worrying about cockroaches and spiders instead, haha!)

    So what I am hoping for in 2012:
    For Feb 15th to come fast, as we take possession of the awesome house we have bought in Lake Cathie. For my parents to love our new hometown so much when they come to visit in March that they consider moving here too (all 4 grandkids are living in Aussie as of 2011). For my son to settle well into school. To put more time and energy into my furniture upcycling and to sell more of it, to see if opening my own shop could become viable. Above all I am just hoping for a more settled year than this one…I am a bit tired!

    xx Karen

    ps. sorry for the novel!

  • Julie-Ann

    I am sorry that this has been such a tough year for you lovely. It really does seem to have had its highs and lows for you. I hope 2012 brings you peace and lots of wonderful positive surprises:).
    2011 has been a fantastic year for me. DS & DH are very happy with their lives. My health has been better than ever thanks to the Fodmap diet. The forum and the store have continued to grow. I got an adorable cat – Monty. I have met so many wonderful people through the internet. The highlight was meeting you and A-M. Didn’t that couple of hours fly by!
    2012 I am very unsure of with DS leaving home:(. It will be a huge change that I must admit I am not looking forward to. But I am thrilled for him that he is getting to follow his dreams. But what will be will be. I will just have to look for the positives.

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